NameCensus.

UK surname

Owers

Locational surname possibly derived from Anglo-Norman French referring to someone from a specific place.

In the 1881 census there were 668 people recorded with the Owers surname, ranking it #5,398 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 911, ranked #6,252, down from #5,398 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bocking and Braintree. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Chelmsford and Epping Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Owers is 1,004 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.4%.

1881 census count

668

Ranked #5,398

Modern count

911

2016, ranked #6,252

Peak year

1999

1,004 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Owers had 668 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,398 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 911 in 2016, ranked #6,252.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 991 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Owers surname distribution map

The map shows where the Owers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Owers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Owers over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 314 #7,361
1861 historical 365 #7,009
1881 historical 668 #5,398
1891 historical 736 #5,392
1901 historical 913 #5,087
1911 historical 991 #4,571
1997 modern 937 #5,786
1998 modern 982 #5,757
1999 modern 1,004 #5,697
2000 modern 998 #5,697
2001 modern 970 #5,724
2002 modern 986 #5,765
2003 modern 962 #5,784
2004 modern 964 #5,772
2005 modern 913 #5,958
2006 modern 904 #6,019
2007 modern 915 #6,015
2008 modern 902 #6,124
2009 modern 913 #6,188
2010 modern 939 #6,173
2011 modern 939 #6,125
2012 modern 932 #6,084
2013 modern 949 #6,084
2014 modern 928 #6,240
2015 modern 929 #6,185
2016 modern 911 #6,252

Geography

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Where Owers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bocking, Braintree and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Chelmsford, Epping Forest, North Norfolk and Braintree. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Bocking Essex
3 Braintree Essex
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 005 County Durham
2 Chelmsford 006 Chelmsford
3 Epping Forest 004 Epping Forest
4 North Norfolk 006 North Norfolk
5 Braintree 004 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Owers

These lists show first names that appear often with the Owers surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Owers

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Owers, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Owers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Owers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Owers is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Owers is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Owers falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Owers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Owers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Owers

The surname Owers originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "owre," meaning "bank" or "shore," suggesting a connection to someone who lived near a riverbank or coastal area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the records of the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a person named Richard de la Ouwere is mentioned. This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Ower, Owre, and Oweres, as seen in historical documents and parish records. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and spelling inconsistencies common during that era.

Notably, the Owers surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Owers, a prominent English merchant who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1580-1644). Records indicate that he was involved in the lucrative wool trade and held influential positions in the city of Bristol.

Another individual of note was Robert Owers, a renowned English architect who lived during the 18th century (c. 1720-1786). He is best known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church and the Palladian-style Foundling Hospital.

In the realm of literature, the name Owers is tied to the English poet and playwright John Owers (1576-1622). While his works are not widely known today, he was a contemporary of celebrated writers like Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.

Moving into the 19th century, the name gained more prominence with individuals such as William Owers (1801-1868), a renowned English engraver and illustrator who contributed to various publications and books of his time.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Arthur Owers (1892-1972) made a significant impact as a British engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing the Owers Rotary Engine, a unique design that aimed to improve efficiency and performance in internal combustion engines.

While the Owers surname may not be among the most common in England, its rich history and association with notable figures across various fields showcase its enduring presence and significance within the country's cultural tapestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Owers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Owers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 308 Owers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.05x.

County Total Index
Essex 308 24.05x
Middlesex 154 2.37x
Surrey 59 1.87x
Cambridgeshire 36 8.76x
Suffolk 23 2.91x
Durham 22 1.14x
Kent 13 0.59x
Glamorgan 7 0.62x
Warwickshire 7 0.43x
Hertfordshire 6 1.34x
Lancashire 5 0.07x
Sussex 5 0.46x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Staffordshire 4 0.18x
Somerset 3 0.29x
Monmouthshire 2 0.43x
Worcestershire 2 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley London in Middlesex leads with 28 Owers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.62x.

Place Total Index
Bromley London 28 19.62x
St Pancras London 28 5.36x
Lambeth 25 4.42x
Braintree 24 208.70x
Earls Colne 23 651.56x
West Ham 22 7.78x
Chelmsford 20 91.03x
Halstead 18 120.48x
Little Dunmow 15 2000.00x
Pelton 15 163.40x
Good Easter 14 1217.39x
Bethnal Green London 13 4.61x
Bocking 13 168.83x
Kensington London 13 3.60x
High Roothing 12 1212.12x
Tottenham 11 10.65x
Aythorpe Roothing 10 1886.79x
Chiswick 10 28.21x
Edmonton 10 19.13x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 10 55.80x
Mildenhall 10 119.05x
Cressing 9 750.00x
Hatfield Peverel 9 326.09x
Islington London 9 1.43x
Newington 9 3.76x
Wickham Bishops 9 756.30x
Soham 8 90.50x
Aberdare 7 9.03x
Aston 7 1.55x
Chelsea London 7 3.58x
Esh 7 49.86x
Ingatestone 7 339.81x
Kelvedon 7 205.28x
Mashbury 7 2187.50x
Shoreditch London 7 2.49x
Springfield 7 124.78x
Bermondsey 6 3.11x
Camberwell 6 1.45x
Chislehurst 6 50.55x
Isleham 6 159.15x
St Andrewthe Less 6 12.78x
Stanford Rivers 6 277.78x
Theydon Garnon 6 205.48x
Beccles 5 39.31x
Feering 5 295.86x
Gosfield 5 367.65x
Great Coggeshall 5 75.08x
Ramsden Bell House 5 568.18x
Reigate Borough 5 68.59x
Sawbridgeworth 5 73.86x
Stisted 5 303.03x
White Notley 5 490.20x
Bexhill 4 73.39x
Brentwood 4 51.22x
Burton Extra 4 31.87x
Great Little Marsden 4 11.34x
Hackney London 4 1.10x
Hammersmith London 4 2.50x
Holy Trinity 4 2.59x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 14.92x
Orsett 4 119.76x
Rotherhithe 4 4.99x
Wivenhoe 4 78.74x
Woolwich 4 4.89x
Writtle 4 76.48x
Barnes 3 22.44x
Keynsham 3 40.00x
Pleshey 3 447.76x
Shalford 3 185.19x
St Marylebone London 3 0.87x
Stebbing 3 120.97x
Wanstead 3 13.38x
Wicken 3 159.57x
Witham 3 45.52x
Abergavenny 2 11.39x
Alresford 2 344.83x
Bow London 2 2.42x
Exning 2 50.13x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 2 44.84x
White Colne 2 240.96x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Owers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 31
Sarah 24
Emma 19
Eliza 17
Elizabeth 16
Alice 15
Ellen 13
Emily 11
Edith 8
Ada 7
Ann 7
Sophia 7
Susan 7
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Maria 6
Martha 6
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Louisa 5
Harriett 4
Minnie 4
Anna 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Kate 3
Lilly 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Lavinia 2
Lillian 2
Rosanna 2
Beatrice 1
Bethsheba 1
Elizh. 1
Elleanor 1
Julix 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Owers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 40
Charles 31
John 24
George 23
James 20
Arthur 15
Frederick 12
Alfred 10
Joseph 10
Thomas 9
Harry 8
Albert 7
Edward 7
Frank 7
Henry 7
Fredk. 6
Richard 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Stephen 5
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Jesse 2
Josiah 2
Moses 2
Osborne 2
Oscar 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Angus 1
Comyns 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Evan 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Fredick 1
Fredk.S. 1
Fredrick 1
Golden 1
Isace 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Thomas 1
Joshua 1
Laurie 1
Leo 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Owers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Owers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 668 people were recorded with the Owers surname. That placed it at #5,398 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Owers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 911 in 2016. That gives Owers a modern rank of #6,252.

What does the Owers surname mean?

Locational surname possibly derived from Anglo-Norman French referring to someone from a specific place.

What does the Owers map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Owers bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.